Happy 90th Birthday, Winnie the Pooh

By Annette Cole Mastron, Communications Director for Southern Writers Magazine

It’s been a big year for Winnie the Pooh. He helped the Queen of England celebrate her 90^th birthday with a book featuring her grandson, Prince George. I blogged about this book debut entitled, Writing for Royalty. Of course this is only possible from the genius of author, A.A. Milne children's book series featuring Winnie-The-Pooh, a stuffed bear of the author's son Christopher Robin and his toy animal friends which debuted 90 years ago this week. 

These books have some of the best advice for adults who read these stories to their young charges. A unique ability for a children's book author. The Guardian interviewed author Brian Silbey who was commissioned by the Milne estate to expand the Winnie the Pooh stories with his book titled, The Best Bear in All the World. In this book you will find many of the beloved characters as well as a new one. 

It's tricky to write books with generations of readers who know the characters so well. Silbey acknowledges in the interview his job was,"about capturing the style of Milne’s writing. What makes … these tales so memorable is their ability to work on two different levels: the child listener to the story always understands what is happening just before Pooh and the others do; while the adult reading to the child engages by recognizing that, under their fur and feathers, the characters are just like people we know among our family, friends and colleagues."

These are some of my favorite Winnie the Pooh quotes found in the books of author A. A. Milne. Good advice for writers and adults in our too real world. 

“Love is taking a few steps backward maybe even more… to give way to the happiness of the person you love.”

“If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you.”

“If there ever comes a day when we can’t be together, keep me in your heart, I’ll stay there forever.”

“Nobody can be uncheered with a balloon.”

My two all-time favorite Pooh quotes are inscribed on pendant charms on my well-worn bracelet with these words; 

“You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” and

“A little consideration, a little thought for others, makes all the difference.”

What about you? On this Winnie the Pooh's 90th Birthday what words of Pooh wisdom resonates with you?